PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Cheryl A. Pawelski, Comm ’89
Los Angeles, Calif., and Portland, Ore.
As a Grammy-winning record producer and record company executive, Cheryl Pawelski preserves music and the stories of the artists for future generations. At Marquette, Cheryl took her initial steps toward a successful career in the entertainment industry, and is now entrusted to tell the stories of some of the greatest musicians of our time — artists like Aretha Franklin, Wilco, and The Band.
Cheryl has earned two Grammy Awards for Best Historical Album. In 2010, she co-founded Omnivore Recordings, a Los Angeles-based record label specializing in historical releases, reissues and previously unissued vintage recordings, as well as select releases of new music. Before co-founding Omnivore Recordings, she held positions at Rhino Entertainment, Concord Music Group and EMI-Capitol Records. She has also produced or overseen several reissues of film soundtrack albums. Cheryl is a passionate collector of music and memorabilia; her personal collection numbers more than 70,000 pieces.
A Milwaukee native, Cheryl knew of Marquette’s strong reputation and high expectations for its students. She chose Marquette to be held accountable for her academic progress and success. When one of Cheryl’s friends told her about the strong creative community at WMUR and MUTV, Cheryl knew Marquette was home. She says, “Marquette contributed to my success by giving me access to resources, equipment, and a cohort of peers who were similarly creatively inclined. It was the first time that my skills, talents and passions snapped into a lane that made potential professional sense.”
Cheryl would like to accept her award “on behalf of all my friends at MUTV and WMUR with whom I learned so much. I’m grateful to all of them and proud of the friendships we maintain to this day.”
What is one of your favorite Marquette memories?
All the time I spent at MUTV and WMUR adds up to one giant favorite memory. Many of the people I met there in radio, television, advertising, and journalism have become lifelong friends.
We had a lot of fun learning while doing and made some pretty great short films, television shows and radio programs. One film project highlight followed the old cliché, “write what you know,” because while I was attending Marquette, I was also a server at a local restaurant and that was the subject matter for one of our more hilarious film projects. Big fun.
Leave a congratulatory message for Cheryl!